Police are patrolling the streets of the near-deserted Whaley Bridge by drone because the evacuated locals fear break-ins - as emergency services work to shore up the crumbling dam.

A 'small number' of 31 people who were initially evacuated have since returned to their homes in the Derbyshire town, during a brief period when police allowed them to do so to collect vital items, but then failed to come back outside the cordon.

Residents of 22 homes, thought to be a mix of those who have gone back to their properties and those who never left following the first evacuations on Thursday, are now refusing to leave despite police warning of a 'very high' threat to life.

It comes as police are currently using drones to patrol the streets of the deserted town, after residents expressed fears their homes could be burgled and shops looted.

While soldiers, police and engineers continue their desperate efforts to stop the dam wall giving way, including utilising an RAF Chinook helicopter to drop bags of aggregate on the damaged section of spillway.

In a forceful condemnation of the culprits who returned home, Deputy Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary Rachel Swann, said: 'These people are putting the lives of officers at risk as further checks have to now be completed to ensure those residents are out of the area safely.

'The officers carrying out these checks are mothers, fathers, partners and friends.'

She added: 'I want my officers to be able to return to their families at the end of their shifts – not be put in harm's way.'

The 'critical condition' of the dam - with a breach still a 'very real threat' - led authorities to clear 55 properties in the Horwich End area, on top of around 1,500 residents who had already been uprooted since Thursday.

An RAF Chinook helicopter drops more bags of aggregate on the damaged section of spillway of the Toddbrook Reservoir dam above the town of Whaley Bridge in northern England

A police chief overseeing the Whaley Bridge dam crisis has blasted residents who were briefly allowed back into the town but stayed, putting her officers at risk as they try to hunt them down

A picture taken on Sunday morning shows the progress the RAF Chinook made in dumping one-tonne sandbags on the stricken dam in a bid to stop it from bursting as engineers assess the structure. The evacuees of Whaley Bridge have been warned it is not safe for them to return home today to collect essential items

In a forceful condemnation of the culprits, Deputy Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary Rachel Swann (pictured), said: 'These people are putting the lives of officers at risk as further checks have to now be completed to ensure those residents are out of the area safely'

Soldiers carrying rolls of damp proof membrane are seen crossing the reservoir. Watermarks on the rocks show the amount of water that has been pumped away since yesterday

Deputy Chief Constable Swann added: 'The officers carrying out these checks are mothers, fathers, partners and friends. I want my officers to be able to return to their families at the end of their shifts – not be put in harm's way.' Pictured: Whaley Bridge today

Around 400 people turned up for a residents' meeting in Chapel-en-le-Frith today, where Deputy Chief Constable Swann said people would be stopped from returning to their homes to pick up essentials.

She told the meeting that the decision was taken because some residents went in and refused to leave again, branding it 'really disappointing' and putting lives at risk.

Speaking to the meeting, Ms Swann urged the 31 people in 22 properties to leave their homes, warning them they could 'die' if they remain in the evacuation zone.

She also told the meeting that a seven day estimate for how long residents would be out of their homes was a 'worst case scenario'.

An RAF Chinook helicopter flies in sandbags to help repair the dam at Toddbrook reservoir near the village of Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire

Engineers and members of the emergency services work to pump water from Toddbrook Reservoir, the spillway of which suffered severe damage following a period of heavy rainfall last week

She said:'Sadly a small number of people went back into their residences and refused to leave. By doing so they put their own lives at risk. We've not evacuated this for no reason.

'We've evacuated this because there is a real prospect the dam could fail and if it fails it is catastrophic. People would die if they were in that evacuation zone.'

'So again, I would urge them in the strongest of terms to leave those properties and tell us that they have done that.'

The 'critical condition' of the dam - with a breach still a 'very real threat' - led authorities to clear 55 properties in the Horwich End area, on top of around 1,500 residents who had already been uprooted since Thursday.

An RAF Chinook helicopter at the Toddbrook reservoir. The 'critical condition' of the dam - with a breach still a 'very real threat' - led authorities to clear 55 properties in the Horwich End area, on top of around 1,500 residents who had already been uprooted since Thursday

Derbyshire chief fire officer Terry McDermott told the meeting that specialist engineers have monitored the dam wall 24 hours a day with lasers.

He said: 'There has been no significant deflection in the dam wall according to the feedback we've had so far, which gives us some reassurance.'

Ms Swann said that at 3.30pm the water had gone down by a level of 3.5m and 'will have gone down a lot more since then'.

Julie Sharman, chief operating officer for the reservoir's owners, the Canal and River Trust, said the reservoir could not be drained as it would require a 'full fish rescue', but she said she was '100% confident of public safety' once the 8m level reduction had been achieved.

The officer said they were at the point of maximum efficiency for pumping, meaning that going any faster could present other structural problems with the dam wall.

Mr McDermott said the sluice channel around the reservoir was 'coping well' with both the water being pumped out by 22 pumps and the inflow to the lake which has been blocked off by Chinook drops. He said six rescue boats had been deployed in the region in case the dam bursts.

Deputy Chief Constable Swann said the water level in the reservoir has now been reduced by just over three metres - of its eight metre depth - and pumps are removing it at a rate of around 10cm an hour.

She said once it has been lowered far enough for engineers to see the damage to the wall, a decision will be made on whether residents and businesses can return to the town.

Firefighters carry water pumping equipment near the bank of reservoir as they work to sure up the dam before bad weather hits on Sunday. Dozens more houses have been emptied in the Derbyshire town as soldiers, police and engineers continue their desperate efforts to stop the reservoir's wall giving way

Dozens more homes have been evacuated in Whaley Bridge (pictured today) ahead of expected bad weather on Sunday, as emergency workers continue their efforts to prevent the dam giving way

Engineers and members of the emergency services work to pump water from Toddbrook Reservoir and have reduced the capacity of the reservoir by 35 per cent, fire services say

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service officers (pictured at 4.30am) worked through the night pumping water at Whaley Bridge as they worked to lower the water level in the dam

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Gavin Tomlinson of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue said crews were working to get 'ahead of the curve and remove as much water as possible' in order to 'minimise the impact of any bad weather that does materialise'.

Speaking about the prospect of the evacuated people moving back in, he told BBC Breakfast: 'At the rate we are pumping, we are hoping certainly towards the end of the week to be in a position to be able to do that.'

Yet the volume of the reservoir could be set to change as forecasters warned of thunderstorms and rainfall for Sunday night.

A Met Office yellow weather warning was in place for much of northern England and the Midlands, including the area around the reservoir.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Gavin Tomlinson of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue said around 35 per cent of the water held in the reservoir had been pumped out (pictured)

The Met Office warned there could be damage and disruption from floodwater and lightning strikes on Sunday (pictured, the yellow weather warning for Sunday)

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tomlinson said crews (pictured, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue) were working to get 'ahead of the curve and remove as much water as possible' in order to 'minimise the impact of any bad weather that does materialise'

Mr Tomlinson said: 'A total of 22 pumps have been working through the night and we have been successful in taking about 35 per cent of the water held in the reservoir (pictured) out'

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More damage to reservoir could see 'massive flood'

Further damage to a dam which has seen thousands evacuated from their homes over fears it may collapse could lead to 'massive flooding', according to an expert.

A wall of a dam at the Toddbrook Reservoir became damaged following flash floods which caused thousands to be evacuated in nearby Whaley Bridge.

An expert from Brunel University in London said the damaged spillway of the dam - designed to release water - could become 'fully broken' within hours. This could lead to 'massive flooding' following the heavy rainfall.

Dr Mohammed Heidarzadeh, assistant professor and head of coastal engineering and resilience LAB, said: 'Due to heavy rainfall in Whaley Bridge area, the spillway is now broken and a big chunk of its concrete structure is damaged.

'There is a possibility that the spillway could then become fully broken in a few hours. If the spillway is fully gone, the embankment dam will be washed away very rapidly, which could cause a massive flood.' He added that a similar situation occurred at the Orovill dam in California in February 2017.

However, as long as the core of the reservoir is not damaged, the wall 'should be okay', according to another specialist.

'Within the last few years new valves have been placed in the dam to expedite rapid drawdown in emergencies: presumably, this is happening now,' said Professor Roderick Smith, from Imperial College London.

The former chief scientific adviser for the Department for Transport said the reservoir previously had 'issues' with an inadequate valve system which has seen been replaced.

Meteorologist Mark Wilson said: 'There is the potential for some thundery showers which could give some very unwelcome rain (in that area).'

Police said evacuations on Saturday night were due to 'a potential increase in risk of adverse weather in coming days and the ongoing risk of the Toddbrook Reservoir breaching'.

Residents moved on Thursday told how they grabbed medication and beloved pets when they were allowed to briefly return home on Saturday, having been warned by police they did so at their own risk.

Reminding them they should only return for essential items, Chief Superintendent Michelle Shooter said: 'I would like to take this opportunity to remind local residents that the state of the dam is still in a critical condition and that the risk of breach is still a very real threat.'

James Thomas Burton, 79, was diagnosed with bladder cancer six years ago.

He has been fitted with a colostomy bag that needs to be changed twice a week - on a Monday and a Thursday - to reduce the risk of infection.

He had been to Goyt Valley Medical Practice in Whaley Bridge on Thursday just before the village was evacuated.

The retired brick moulder is concerned the village will not be open on Monday.

He said: 'When they diagnosed me with cancer they found four tumours on my bladder and a big tumour on my kidney.

'So they took my kidney out and fitted me with a colostomy bag.

'I have to get it changed twice a week in case it get infected.

'I had it changed on the Thursday and I got home just as they had called the evacuation.

'The doctors phoned me up on Friday and asked if I could go to Chapel-en-le-Frith to get it changed.'

But the road leading to Chapel-en-le-Frith has been closed off by the police today - and does not look likely to be opened tomorrow.

Mr Burton would face a three hour round trip for the ten minute procedure.

He added: 'I'm what you call in a hole and I can't get out. I am concerned. If worst comes to the worst I'll have to ring an ambulance.'

Priscilla Warrington, 51, owns the Post Office in the Horwich End part of the town.

The shop in Buxton Road was evacuated on Thursday when she was told by the police to flee.

She said: 'It was a case of making sure everything was secure before we left.

'It's very much a community shop. It's the community hub for many residents.

'I'm worried for the elderly people. For many of them it's their point of contact.

'We have things like people's travelling money that is in the safe.'

Mrs Warrington was allowed back on Saturday for 15 minutes to collect the post.

She also retrieved food in the shop and donated cakes to emergency service workers in the town.

Where Whaley Bridge is in relation to the reservoir and the dam wall which has a hole in it, and the flow of the water

Mrs Warrington said she is concerned about what the future holds for her business, adding: 'We pulled out all the post and the parcels and we got it collected.

'But we get a lot of medicines in for people and we do all the banking for the local businesses. We don't take a salary, while the shop is shut, we aren't earning any money.

'We have to sort out paying staff and what we are going to do regarding insurance. It's going to be a nightmare. I am worried for the regular customers.

'We have a lot of elderly people's house nearby and they use us a lot of the time.'

Joan Pass, 78, was in tears after she went back for the first time since the mass evacuation of the town, yesterday describing it as 'terrible'.

Evacuated residents from Whaley Bridge have burst into tears (pictured yesterday) as they briefly returned home to collect their valuables and pets

She said she thought there had been an explosion when first told to evacuate.

Mrs Pass said: 'The bells were ringing - I didn't know what the bells were ringing for. My daughter said get out, get your passport and your medication.

'I thought it was a bomb.'

Ben Pudsey and Andrew McNair, from Animal Search UK, said they had rescued a cockatiel called Joey from one of the evacuated houses, where he had escaped from his cage and was flying around the living room.

Tracey Coleman said she, her 18-year-old daughter Anna and the rest of the family left on Thursday with their two dogs, a cat, a tortoise and the neighbour's dog and went to her mother's house nearby.

Those evacuated from their homes were allowed to return briefly on Friday evening to pick up any vital items or pets. Pictured: Anna Coleman, 18, with her tortoise Nelly and dog Henry

Val Fallon, 74, has been staying with her daughter in nearby Macclesfield and returned to her house to collect clothes and shoes.

She has lived in the village for 22 years and owns an antique shop next to her house.

She moved without any clothes in a rush and her beloved Jack Russell had not eaten anything since the move.

Ms Fallon said: 'I would lose my shop and my house if it bursts. I'd lose everything. There is no point moving anything from the shop, I haven't got enough time.

Val Fallon (pictured yesterday), 74, is staying with her daughter in nearby Macclesfield and returned to her house to collect clothes and shoes

Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised on Friday the damaged reservoir would have a 'major rebuild' as he met locals (two women pictured retrieving the post today) at nearby Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, which is being used as an evacuation centre

Shannon Bennett and Jake Mason move items from their home in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, on Saturday and are seen packing their car

How was Toddbrook Reservoir dam built?: Cross section reveals how structure's clay and concrete hold back 300m tones of water

The large earth dam has a clay core which is made of the same substance used in canals - with it supposed to stop water from flowing through it.

Surrounding the core there is compact soil, which holds the dam together and increased the dams strength over time as it is further condensed.

On the other side of the dam to the water, there are concrete spillways to channel away excess water as the reservoir overflows.

It works in a similar way to a overflow drain in a bath.

A graphic shows the structure of the Toddbrook dam in Whaley Bridge

The reservoir reached bursting point on Thursday after heavy rainfall caused its water levels to rise and tip over the emergency spillway.

This chipped away at the structure and partly eroded it.

Yet Chairman of the British Dam Society Alan Warren has said the reason for this remains unclear.

He told the BBC: 'We don't know whether the concrete was inadequate or whether there was some problem underneath those concrete slabs which means the slabs fell into a void that had been forming underneath.

'Maybe the joints in the slabs weren't properly sealed, and water was getting in through the joints.'

Other experts have speculated from pictures of the dam that the over-spilling water had eroded the soil under the concrete, but the clay below it had not been compromised.

'They get you so panicked, you can't think of all the things you'd need to take. I just dropped everything and fled when they evacuated the village. It was such a rush.

'I am living out of my daughter's rag bag, I didn't have any clothes with me when I evacuated. I thought it was only going to be an overnight thing, but it is on its third day already and they have no idea how long we might have to stay away for.

'It's my dog I feel sorry for. He hasn't eaten anything, he's not a happy chap. He's so out of kilter with all the upheaval and stress.'

James Barrington has gone to stay with his parents in nearby Wilmslow, Cheshire, after being evacuated.

He had returned to his house in Whaley Bridge to get the last of his possessions.

Residents were bringing cups of tea and sandwiches to officers, some of whom were working 20 hour shifts.

One officer said: 'People's support has been fantastic. I've had homemade sausage sandwiches and cakes brought out to me.

'People have been brilliant. It really shows the community spirit in this area.

'Total strangers have offered their spare beds to people who have been evacuated.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the area on Friday and promised the damaged reservoir would have a 'major rebuild' as he met locals at nearby Chapel-en-le-Frith High School.

Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers, who visited the area on Saturday, paid tribute to the 'patience and fortitude' of residents and thanked all those working to repair the dam.

And Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted Sunday morning that 'the situation is very concerning and our solidarity goes out to the residents'.

An RAF Chinook has dropped more than 400 one-tonne sandbags as well as aggregate, and around 150 firefighters have been using high-volume pumps to remove excess water from the reservoir.

Residents are expected to be updated on the situation at a meeting on Sunday evening.

The reservoir is on the north-west edge of the Peak District National Park and was built in 1831, according to experts, although the Environment Agency records it as being built in 1840-41.

Does this picture of a 'neglected' dam prove it was a disaster waiting to happen? Footage shows weeds and a tree growing between the concrete panels of Whaley Bridge three years ago

Footage showing plants growing between the concrete panels of the Toddbrook Reservoir dam spillway three years ago have raised questions over its maintenance since then.

The spillway is designed to deal with any water which comes over the top of the dam and channel it safely away.

One engineering expert voiced concern over possible harm to the structure.

Dr Mohammad Heidarzadeh, an assistant professor at Brunel University, said the vegetation on the 2016 video taken from a drone indicated likely gaps between the panels where water could have swept in, making the damage worse.

'That could be the whole problem right there,' he said.

Picture shows plants growing between the concrete panels of the Toddbrook Reservoir dam spillway three years ago

'The spillway needs to be kept sealed and clear of these kind of weeds and plants.'

However another expert, Professor Tim Broyd, former president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, doubted whether the spillway's failure matched the area where the weeds were most prevalent.

Asked whether the images suggested good maintenance, he said: 'I'm not sure why you'd want a small tree on the spillway.'

A spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which maintains the dam, said the reservoir was inspected and maintained by independent engineers.